Yarn balloon controller or generator



June 25, 1957 N. E. KLEIN YARN BALLOON CONTROLLER OR GENERATOR Filed April 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NORMHN E. KLEIN ATTORNEY June 25, 1957' N. E. KLEIN YARN BALLOON CONTROLLER OR GENERATOR Filed April 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NORMQN E. KLEIN ATTORNEY atent "Ofiice 7, 2,795,726 Patented June 25, 1957 YARN BALLOGN CUNTRQLLER URGENERATOR Norman E. Klein, Clemson, -S. C., assignor to Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Fendieton, S. -J., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 229,667

26 Claims. (Ci; 57-53.84)

The present invention relates to textile twisting or plying machines and more particularly to the type of textile machine wherein the path ofthe yarn traveling to or from the machine rotates about an axis and forms a so-called yarn balloon. Machines of this character are ordinarily arranged side by side on longframes, each machine forming one unit of the frame. It is important from the stand point of maximum production that each unit occupy a minimum space and hence that the maximum diameter of the yarn balloon formed at eachunit not be excessive.

In co-pending applications of the present applicant, ,Serial No.133,047, filed December 15, 1949, now Patent .Number,2,73 1,786, which issuedl'anuary 24, 1956, and

Serial No. 179,069, filed August 12, I950, now'Patent Ninnber2,625,786 whichissued January.20, .1953, a twofor-one-twister' is disclosed .and claimed which includes.a fixedballoon confining ringpositionedsubstantially .at the level of maximum free balloon diameter. The fixed ring of the said. applicationsserves together with a storage .orfwrap-around deviceon the rotating spindle'of the twister to provide tensionshape controljfor'the' yarn balloon and also-serves toprevent tangl-ing of, the balloons of adjacent units and thus tozpermit closespacingof the units. "Theballoon confining ring ofthe twister of the said co -pending applications has been-found to "be of substantial value. When, however, -certain yarns, such as viscose yarn of low denier made by thecuprammonium processor heat sensitiveyarns, such as nylon, are twisted on devices ,provided with such fixed balloon confining rings, the tensile strength ofthe twistedyarn,particularly when'hightwistis 'beingiinserted'therein, is unduly re- 'duced. Examination under a microscope reveals 'many brokenfilarnentsin the yarn which 'have'resulted, it is believed; from abrasion of the yarn by the ring or from 'heat engendered 'by-fractional' engagement of the ring by the yarn.

It is'theprimary object of the present invention to provide in-atwistenor thelike, yarn balloon confining means which have the advantages of the fixed ring ofthe'said prior applications and yet will neither abrade noruoverheat the yarn.

It isa further object of the invention to provide a novel two for-one twisterin which the balloon confining means servesalsoas-the generator of-theballoon, thus renderby airjets in the mannerof a turbine, :or the ring may be the armature-rotor of an induction; motor. In either case the yarn may freely engage the inner surface of the ring or it may pass through a suitable aperture in the ring. When the yarn engages the inner surface of the ring, the balloon is generated as in the twister of the 5 'said co-pending applications by rotation of a spindle and fiyer secured thereto whereas when the yarn passes through the ring the balloon is generated by rotation of the ring.

For a better understanding of the invention and of specific. embodiments .thereof, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings of which: 7

Fig. l is a side view, partly in section, of a two-forone twister 'provided' with a balloon confining air floated and air driven ring embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a'perspective view of the ring of'Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is "an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an iriductively'driven ring representing another embodiment 'ofthe invention;

Fig. 4;is aperspective vie-w of the ring of Fig. 3;

Fig/Sis a diagrammatic side view partly in section of "a two-for one twister equipped with a combined balloon "confining and balloon generating ring.

' The particular twister illustrated in Fig. l is that form- "ing the subject matter of-SerialNo.'133 ,047 except'that the fixed-balloon'confining ring of that twister-is re placed by the rotatable ring of the present invention. The spindle 2- of the twister is rotatably mounted on a conventional-swing gate 4 secured'to the spindle railo of 'thetwister frame. -A storage or wrap-around device -8 and disk fiyer=1tlaresecuredto thespindle above'the whorl-'12 and a package support platform 14 is rotatably mounted on thespindle abovethe disk flyer. The platform Mend packagelo carried thereby are magnetically stabilized against rotation with the spindle by known 'means, as for example cooperating magnets 18 and 2% -eari'ied'respectively by the gate 4 and platform 14. A11 apex-yarn guide22 is supported fromthe'pla'tform above the package 1 6. Suitable-pretensioning:means indicated at 24 are positioned in the yarn flow path'between the guide'ZZ and the spindle orifice 26, the yarn fiow'path being'from'the outside of the package to the-guide 22, down through the guide and pretension device along' the axis of the spindleto the orifice 26 and thence to the an- --nular surfaceof the storage device 8. The yarn wraps 45 aroundthat surface through a small and variable angle, then passes up over-the disk 'fiyer to and-through a fixed guide 28'to a take-up device (not shown), the yarn ballooning about the package and platform'in transit from the flyer' to the fixed guide. Preferably, as shown, the platform and parts carried thereby are enclosed in a suitable cover 30 of plastic or the like.

In-accordance with the invention a rotatable ring 32 havingra smoothly'rounded and polished inner yarn engaging surface and provided around its outer periphery with-1a plurality of pockets or buckets 34 encircles the coverfill. During operation of the twister the ring is air supported andair rotated by means now to .be described. Supportedfrom the swing gate 4, as by a'bracketI36, is' an annular'casing 38 which has a fiatupper surface 40 serving 'as' a seat for the ring 32 when the twister'is not in operation and an'upwardly extending rim portion 42 encircling the outer periphery of the ring. The casing 38is formed with an interior cavity or chamber 44 which extends up into the rim portion 42 and which is connected by a'nipple 45m a. hose 48. The hose 48 is connected to a' suitable supply of compressed air (not shown). A

number ofsmall passages-50 forming air vents from the chamber44 to the seat 46 are drilled or otherwiseformed 70 in the upper wall of the casing 38 and similar passages 52 are-formed in the inner wall of the rim portion-42.

The-jets of air issuingfrom'passages .50 provide an .air

cushion for support of the ring 32 and the jets of air issuing from the passages 52 and impinging upon the ring 32 and buckets 34 serve to rotate the ring, the passages 52 being angularly disposed with respectto the axis of ring 32 to provide a tangential component of force on the ring in the direction of rotation'of the yarn balloon. j v

The operation of the twister of Fig. 1 will be readily apparent from the foregoing description of the various parts thereof. During operation, air under pressure is delivered through hose 48 to chamber 44 for support and rotation of ring 32. The twister spindle is rotated,

' as by a belt 54 in engagement with the whorl 12. The

upon the tension in the yarn, then over the under surface of the flyer and upwardlybetween the magnet 18 and the cover 30 in transit to the fixed guide 28, engages the inner periphery of ring 32 to a greater or less extent, again depending upon the tension in the yarn. As the ring is rotating in the direction of the yarn balloon, and preferably at or near the same rate of rotation, there will be but little, if any, lateral slippage of the yarn on the ring and therefore abrasion and overheating of the yarn will be substantially reduced as compared to that occurring when a fixed ring is employed. All the advantages, as distinguished from the disadvantages, of the fixed ring are retained with the rotating ring. It cooperates with the storage device in tension shape control of the yarn balloon in the same way as does the fixed ring and it also serves to prevent expansion of the balloon with resultant interference with neighboring units. The air cushion support for the ring avoids all necessity for lubrication and insures long life as there is no rubbing of one moving surface on a fixed surface.

Instead of driving the floating ring by air jets, the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 may be employed. In this embodiment of the invention, the ring 32' forms the rotor of an induction motor. For this purpose it is provided around its outer periphery with circumferential upper and lower bands 56 and 58, respectively, of aluminum, copper, or the like, interconnected by strips 60 of similar metal which together serve, in efiect, as a squirrel cage winding. The supporting casing 38' for the ring 32' has a cylindrical wall 42' of plastic or the package platform 14. Theyarn, in ballooning about i like around the outer periphery of which is secured the V stator for the ring .32 comprising a laminated annular core 62 and winding 64. The casing 38' the main portion of which can be of brass or other nonmagnetic metal is provided with an annular chamber 44' connected bya nipple 46' with a hose 48' and connected by passages 50' inthe upper wall with the seat 40' for the ring. Preferably passages 52' leading from the chamber 44 and terminating opposite the outer surface of the ring 32" are provided in the cylindrical wall 42. In this embodiment of the invention the ring is air supported but not air rotated, rotation being imparted to the ring by magnetic induction. The air jets from passages 50 pro- .vide the air cushion support and the jets from passages 52 provide a centering force on the ring preventing engagement thereof with the wall 42'. scribed construction permits the ring to be driven in 'either direction of rotation and therefore is a more flexible arrangement than that of Figs. 1 and 2. Also, particularly at high rates of rotation, the inductively driven ring is preferred because it is substantially noiseless. It will be understood that the ring 32' of Figs. 3 and 4 will be positioned like ring 32 of Figs. 1 and 2 to engage and The above de-.

. 4 control a yarn balloon of a twister such as that indicated in Fig. 1.

Instead of the yarn balloon freely engaging the inner periphery of the rotating air supported ring, as in the embodiment of the invention so far'specifically described, a yarn guide passage could be formed in the ring for passage of the yarn therethrough in which case there would be no possibility of lateral motion of the yarn on the ring surface. When such a guide passage is provided, the ring, of course, must be rotated at the exact rate of the yarn balloon to avoid interference therewith. Any attempt at exact correlation of balloon rate of rotation with ring rate of rotation is avoided if the ring itself is made the generator of the balloon. Such an arrangement, which results in .a new typetwister having numerous advantages over conventional twisters heretofore known in the art, is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5 to which reference may now be had.

The twister of Fig. 5 lacks many of the elements normally associated with twisters known in the art. There is no rotating spindle nor part equivalent thereto and hence no drive belt, no swing gate and no conventional spindle rail. Assuming, however, that the twister of Fig. 5 is one of many units mounted side by side along a frame, the platform 66 may be considered as a fixed longitudinal rail of such frame. Mounted on the platform or rail 66 at each twister location is a hollow cylindrical casing 68 having an inverted conical upper wall open at its apex 70 and provided with a series of openings 72 around its periphery intermediate the apex 70 and the upper lip 74 forming the base of the inverted cone. The chamber 76 within the casing 68 is connected by a nipple 78 to an air supply line 80., Above casing 68 and extending into the conical opening in its upper surface is a package container 82 which has a lower conical shape generally conforming with the upper surface of casing 68. When the twister is not in operation the lower part 82 of the container 82 seats in the casing 68 but when air under pressure is delivered to chamber 76 the jets of air issuing through the opening at apex 70 and through orifices 72 support the container and maintain it out of engagement with the walls of the casing. The casing 82 may be, and preferably is, of plastic material. An annular ledge or shoulder 84 on the inner surface of the container adjacent the base of the inverted conical lower end 82' thereof provides a support for the yarn supply package 86. Secured to the inner wall of the container on the under side of the ledge 84 are a pair of permanent magnets 88 which cooperate with magnets 90 mounted on the casing 68 to stabilize the container against rotation on its axis. The lower part 82' of the container has an axially disposed tube 92 therein, the lower end of the tube having smoothly rounded flaring walls for passage of yarn thereover and the upper end of the tube extending into the core of the yarn supply package. A suitable apex yarn guide 94 and a pretension device 96 are carried by the package 86. A balloon confining and generating ring 98, supported like ring 32' of Fig. 3 by air issuing from passages in the upper wall of an annular casing 100, and inductively driven like ring 32' is provided with a yarn passage 102 therethrough. A guide 104 is fixedly positioned above the container 82 On the extended axis of the package.

The annular casing carrying the stator structure for the ring armature 98 is supported by a bracket 106 from the rail 66 and compressed air for support of the ring is delivered to the annular air chamber of the casing 100 by means of line 108 connected to the line 80. Carried by the casing 100 is a ring 110 of magnetic material which is radially and permanently magnetized and which cooperates with a similar radially magnetized ring 112' 'poles are presented to each other, that is, if the outer periphery 'of ring 112 is considered as a north pole,

the inner periphery ofring 110 isalso-a" north-pole. The magnetic-repulsion betweenthe rings 110 and112 thus "serveto center the container 82and maintain its position' in space.

With the'above described-construction, when air under =pressure'is delivered to'chamber 76 ofthe support casing 68and to the annular chamber of casing '1'00,"the container 82 is lifted from its seat in the, upper wall of casing 68 and'ring 98 is similarly air supported above the casing 100. Energization of the stator'win'ding'causes the ring 98 to rotate about the axis of thepackage'an'dto generate a yarn balloon. Yarn under the influence of-atake-up device (not shown) is drawn up from'thepackagq down through the guide 94 and tension device 96, axially of the package and tube 92 then up between the conical Walls of container 82 and casing 68 and through the passage 102 in ring 98- to and-throughthe guide 104, two twistsibeing-insertedin the ,yarn for:each rotationvof the ring 98. The direction of tWists-is determinediby the direction: of rotationiof the-1ing9,8. Thus, ;by utilizing the rotating air supportedringas a z-balloon generator a novel two-for-one twister. having .120" other rotating 1 parts is realized. The -economy. both from the standpointlof initial construction andof upkeep ,of the new twister as compared .to. conventional twisters will be apparent. Bearings, spindles, belts, flyers, swing gates and many other conventional parts of twisteriframes are dispensed eWitil as is also all necessity for .lubrieationsof moving parts. Also, as the only moving parts of the new twister are the ring and the yarn itself, very little wear and long useful life of the twister result.

The invention has now been described with reference to several embodiments thereof. Obviously, various changes in the specific constructions illustrated and described could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, although the yarn package container of the new twister has been shown as supported by a cushion of air, other means, for example magnetic means, could be provided for so supporting the package container as to permit formation of the yarn balloon thereabout. Other changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The following is claimed:

1. The combination with a twisting device of the type wherein a yarn balloon is formed during operation of the device, of a ring surrounding and confining the balloon and rotating about the balloon axis in the same direction as the yarn, said ring being supported by a cushion of 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said ring is air rotated.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said ring is cut away at intervals about its outer periphery to form buckets and rotation of the ring is effected by impingement of jets of air on said buckets.

4. The combination with a twisting device of the type wherein a yarn balloon is formed during operation of the device, of a ring surrounding and confining the balloon and rotating about the balloon axis in the same direction as the yarn, said ring being rotated by induction.

5. The combination with a twisting device of the type wherein a yarn balloon is formed during operation of the device, of a ring surrounding and confining the balloon and rotating about the balloon axis in the same direction as the yarn, said ring being substantially at the location of maximum free balloon diameter.

6. A two-for-one twister comprising in combination means for supporting a supply package, a ring surrounding said package and spaced therefrom, means for rotating said ring, and means for guiding yarn upwardly from said package, then downward axially of said package 6 and-then upwardly about "said package and said 7. "The twister according to claim 6whereinsaid ring is'provided with-a yarn guide passage therethrough whereby rotation 'o'fthe ring causes the yarn toballoonabout the package.

8. The-twister according to claim 6 including means for preventing rotation of said package support'means.

9. -The-twister according to claim 6 including means for creating a cushion of air for support of said'ring.

10. The twister according to claim 6 including an annular structure formed with an annular chamber'and having .upper seat portion adapted-to support said ring when the-twister'is not in operation, said structure being provided with aplurality. of passages providing air vents from said chamber to said seat portion, and means for delivering .air'underpressure to said chamberfor supportofsaid ring abovesaid seat by'the jets of air issuing 'throughsaid vents, said means for rotatingsaid ringzcompri'sing an annular stator member-carried by said structure-and adapted upon energization to'rotate said=ring by induction.

I1. I he twister according to claim 6 including an annular structure formed with an annular chamber and having an upper seat portion adapted to support said :ringwhen the twister is not in operation, said structure being provided with a plurality'of passages providing air vents frorn said chamber to said seatportion, and means for delivering air under pressure to said chamber for support ofsaid ring 'above said seat *portion by the jets of air issuing through said vents, said structure having a shoulder surrounding said ring and provided with an gularly disposed passages for directing jets of air from said chamber to the periphery of said ring, said last mentioned jets comprising said means for rotating said ring.

12. A twister comprising a supply package container having a yarn delivery passage in the lower end thereof, a housing having an upper apertured wall adapted to support said container when the twister is not in operation, means for delivering air under pressure for support of said container by air jets issuing through the apertures in said housing Wall, a ring surrounding said container, and spaced therefrom, said ring having a yarn guide passage therethrough, means for rotating said ring to form a yarn balloon about said container, and means stabilizing said container against rotation.

13. The twister according to claim 12 including means for providing an air cushion support for said ring.

14. The twister according to claim 12 wherein said means for rotating said ring comprises an induction motor of which said ring is the rotor.

15. In a yarn twisting device of the type wherein a yarn pack-age circumscn'bing ring engages the yarn and is adapted to be rotated for the insertion of twist in said yarn, of means for supporting said ring on a cushion of air.

16. In a yarn twisting device of the type wherein a member engages the yarn and is adapted to be rotated for the insertion of twist in said yarn, of means for supporting said member on a cushion of air, said member being rotated by induction.

17, A yarn twisting device as in claim 15 wherein said ring is air rotated.

18. In a yarn twisting device of the type wherein a member engages the yarn and is adapted to be rotated for the insertion of twist in said yarn, the improvement of means for supporting said member on a cushion of air, said member having a downwardly facing annular surface adapted to be acted upon by a jet of air, and said means comprising a plurality of air jets acting in gpwardly unbalanced force relation on said annular surace.

19. In a yarn twisting device of the type wherein a member engages the yarn and is adapted to be rotated for the insertion of twist in said yarn, the improvement of means for supporting said member on a cushion of 3211', said member having a downwardly-facing'annular --surface"ada-pted to be acted upon by 'a'jet of air, said 1 means comprising a plurality of air jets acting upwardly on said annular surface, said surface being part of an annular member adapted to serveas the rotor in an induction motor. p g 1 20. A yarnjhandling apparatusrcomprising a supply package container having a yarn delivery passage .in the lower end thereof, a housing having, an upper apertured 'wall adapted to support said container when the apparatus 'is not in-operation, and air pressure supply means'for ,delivering air'under pressure for support of said con- 'tainer by air 'jets issuing through the apertures insaid housing wall. 7

, 21. In a yarn twisting deviceof the-type having a yarn package support, and a member adapted to engage the yarn and to berotated for the insertion of twist in said yarn, the improvement of air supply means for supporting said yarn package support on a cushion of air.

22. A yarn twisting device as in claim 21 wherein .means are provided for supporting said member .on a

cushion of air.

23. A yarn twisting device as in claim 21 wherein said member has a downwardly facing annular surface adapted to be acted upon by a jet of air and said means 7 comprises a plurality of air jets acting upwardly on said annular member.

24. A twisting device as in claim 23 wherein said surface is part of an annular memberadapted to serve asthe rotorin an induction motor.

- V 25. In a yarn twisting'device ofthetype wherein a 7rdf-tatable; member engages the yarn and is adapted to be rotated for the insertion of twist in said yarn, the" provement of means for supporting said member solely on a cushion o f air during rotation, said memberfbeing unencumbered during rotation;

1 Jackson Augf 29;'l87l Foster Nov. 23, 1897 -C0tterill Mar. 7, 1950 Clarkson Q Apr. 24, 1951 Gonsalves Oct. 23, 1951 BliZard. Nov. 23,-1954 Hansen June'7, 1955 e FOREIGN PATENTS France ..Q. June 15 1903 'Ancet Oct. 3,' 1950 

